Page 116 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
“I know,” I replied. “But you need to trust that I can handle this my way. I’m ready to step up and be the alpha this pack needs, the mate Zoey needs. Even if that means doing things differently than before.”
My parents exchanged a glance, a silent conversation passing between them. Finally, Dad sighed heavily and met my gaze. “All right. We’ll do it your way. But I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“How did George even get into town in the first place?” I asked. “None of the lookouts reported to me they saw him enter. Did they inform you?”
My father shook his head and frowned. “No, I didn’t receive any messages about his arrival.” He pulled out his phone, scrolling through his notifications. “Nothing here, either.”
“The shifters stationed at the town’s entrances should have spotted him,” I considered. “George drove into town in his own damn car. How could he have done that without anyone noticing? It doesn’t make sense.”
A sense of unease settled in the pit of my stomach. If George could slip into Boldercrest undetected, what else was he capable of?
My father resumed his pacing, his hands clasped behind his back. “This is troubling indeed. We’ll need to investigate and find out how this breach occurred.”
“We have to let the pack know about George,” I said. “No one is safe until that bastard is caught. I won’t have our people caught off guard, not knowing the danger they could be in because of him.”
There was a flicker of hesitation in my father’s eyes when they met mine, but he inclined his head. “Okay. Why don’t I put together a statement to update the pack on your recovery progress? I can stress the need for caution and urge them to report any sightings of George James immediately.”
I shifted in the hospital bed, ignoring the dull ache in my side. “I’ll make the announcement myself, as soon as I’m discharged. The pack needs to hear it directly from me.”
My father placed a hand on my shoulder. “If that’s what you want, I’ll stand by your side. We’ll face this together, united as a family and a pack.”
I looked him square in the eye, my frustration bubbling to the surface. He was putting on this show of support now, but how could I know it wasn’t fake after the way he’d acted during his earlier visit?
“You know, Dad, this feels a bit too little, too late. I can’t help but think you regret putting Zoey under pack protection. Even though you know she’s my mate, it seems like you wish you’d never given Sam permission to bring her here.”
The muscles in my father’s jaw clenched. “Noah, that’s not fair. I’m only trying to do what’s right for the pack.”
I scoffed. “Best for the pack? Or best for you? What kind of man regrets protecting his own son’s fated mate?”
The tension in the room was palpable as we stared each other down. My father’s hands clenched at his sides. “I don’t regret protecting Zoey. But an alpha’s role is to consider the safety of the entire pack. The world isn’t simply black and white, it’s a complex spectrum of gray. It’s not always an easy decision.”
I pushed myself up straighter in the bed, ignoring the searing pain shooting through my body. “Well, I’m the alpha now, and I’m telling you, I’m going to handle this my way. I’ll make the announcement to the pack, andI’lldecide how it’s worded.”
My father’s eyes narrowed. “Noah, I’ve been running this pack for years. I think I know a thing or two about how to handle a situation like this.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “Is that why you demanded I come back to town? Give up my career, my dreams? Just so you could keep calling the shots?”
“I wanted you here because you’re my son and the rightful alpha. Not so I could control you.”
I shook my head, my patience wearing thin. “Could’ve fooled me. Look, Dad, it’s time you stepped back and enjoyed your retirement. Go hit the fairway with your golfing buddies, and let me run my pack.”
My father’s face reddened, the vein in his forehead popping out. “Now, you listen here, Noah?—”
I cut him off with a wave of my hand. “No,youlisten. This is my pack now. My responsibility. And I’ll be damned if I let you undermine me at every turn. So, please, just go. Let me handle this.”
For a moment, I thought he might argue more, but then he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, slamming the door shut behind him. I sank back against the pillows, exhausted and furious but more determined than ever to prove myself as the leader my pack needed.
My mother stepped closer to the hospital bed, her expression softening as she took my hand in hers. “Noah, your father wants what’s best for everybody. He’s trying to help in the only way he knows how.”
I sighed, the frustration still simmering. “Seems like he wants what’s best for himself. He would’ve trusted Nate to make the right decisions for the pack. So why can’t he trust me?”
Mom gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “He does trust you. But you have to understand, his nerves are on edge. Last night, a police officer showed up at our door to tell us our only surviving son was nearly killed. It brought back all those painful memories from the night we lost Nate.”
I swallowed hard. Whenever my twin brother’s death was mentioned, an all-too-familiar ache spread through my chest. Losing Nate had devastated my parents. I hadn’t considered how my brush with death might have triggered those memories.
“I understand how that might have had an impact on him,” I said. “I get it. But if this is his way of helping, I’d rather he backed off. I need to do this my way.”
She fiddled with her hair. “Just promise me you’ll be careful. I can’t bear the thought of losing you, too.”
